Machine for making bottle caps and the like



Dec. 27, 1960 G. E. FORD ETAL MACHINE FOR MAKING BOTTLE CAPS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 24, 1958 lnvenlor: G E. FM 2) B 9. WAITE y W h 4' zttarneys of the damaged tool set.

hee es PM MACHINE FOR MAKING BO'I'I'LE CAPS AND THE LIKE Geoffrey Ewart Ford and Philip Sidney Waite, Bedford, England, assignors to Fords (Finsbury) Limited, Bedford, England, a British company Filed Sept. 24, 1958, Ser. No. 763,064.

Claims priority, application Great Britain Sept. 27, 1957 6 Claims. (Cl. 93-13) The present invention relates to machines for making bottle caps, containers and other skirted articles from strip metal foil by means of a combined blanking and forming tool. Machines of this kind are: described in the specifications of our prior British Patents Nos. 646,552, 667,301, 717,507, 756,440 and 778,615.

An object of the invention is' to provide an improved construction of such a machine which incorporates an interchangeable tool set whereby the machine can be easily repaired by the labour available in a dairy in the event of tool breakage by simply fitting another tool set, which is already fully assembled and has the shearing tools accurately aligned, into the machine in place The provision of a machine with an interchangeable tool set also makes the machine easily adaptable for making components of different size or shape by simply interchanging tool sets.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tool set for blanking and forming bottle caps and the like, in which the forming punch is supported on a mounting member which is releasably secured so that it can be removed from its position within the shear ring to enable easy access for clearing the tools. Another object is to provide a quick release mechanism for holding the forming punch in position.

A further object is to provide a tool set for blanking and forming bottle caps and the like in which the punch is carried on a mounting plate which carries a locking member having parts disposed therearound which are formed as or with projections, fingers, slots or the equivalent which are adapted to engage with or beneath retaining elements on a support member (forming part of or adapted to be secured to the machine) by a turning movement of the locking member about the axis of the punch, thereby holding the locking member against axial movement relative to the support member, means being provided for forcing the locking member to move axially with respect to the mounting plate whereby the mounting plate is forced into firm contact with the support member and the projections or the like of the locking member are urged against the retaining elements to secure the assembly locked in position on the support member.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a side view, partly in section, of part of a bottle cap making machine incorporating the interchangeable tool set of this invention.

Figure 2 is a section along the line A--A in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end view of the tool set looking in the direction of the arrow B in Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing, the interchangeable tool set generally indicated by 1 comprises a supporting plate 2 adapted to be secured to the machine frame 3 by bolts 4 or the like. The plate 2 has an aperture 5 therethrough at the inner end of which is secured a shear "ice ring 6'. Supported from the outer face of the plate 2 opposite to the shear ring is a unit comprising a form'- ing punch 7, ejector ring 8 and other components carried on a mounting plate 9, the unit being secured to the plate 2 so that the punch and ejector ring extend through the aperture 5 and into the bore of the shear ring 6, the mounting plate 9 being secured in position against the plate 2 in a releasable manner whereby the unit may be readily released and withdrawn from the aperture 5, without displacing the shear ring, for cleaning the tools or clearing obstructions.

Projecting from the inner face of the supporting plate 2 is a cylindrical sleeve 11 co-axial with the axis of the shear ring 6. The sleeve 11 may be located on a spigot 2a on the inner face of the plate 2 and may be secured by bolts 12. Within the sleeve 11 slides a piston or like member 13 which carries at its front end (that is the end facing the shear ring) a complementary shearing and forming die 14 and associated spring-urged pressure members 15 which may be constructed in known manner and which, in conjunction with the shear ring 6 and forming punch 7, operate to blank and form bottle caps from the strip of metal foil 16 as it is intermittently fed through the machine by known mechanism.

Diametrically opposed openings 17, are cut in the wall of the sleeve 11 to enable the strip of metal foil 16 to be fed between the complementary tools of the tool set. These openings may be formed by cutting away arcuate sections of the sleeve .11 from the end which is attached to the supporting plate 2 up to a point .beyond the plane of the front surface of the shear ring 6.

- The end of the sleeve 11 remote from the supporting plate 2 is provided with a stop member for preventing the piston member 13 from falling out or being witlidrawn from the sleeve 11. In the embodiment illustrated, this stop member comprises an end cover 18 secured to the sleeve by bolts 18a and having a central aperture 19 through which extends the piston rod 20 which is connected through the pin 21 to a connecting rod 22 connected to the sheave 23 of an eccentric 24 secured on the driving shaft 25 of the machine.

The connecting rod 22 may be connected in an adjustable manner to the eccentric sheave 23, for example by providing the connecting rod 22 with a longitudinally extending slot 26 through which one or more bolts 27 may pass to secure it to the sheave 23. An adjustable thrust member is provided at the end of the connecting rod 22 and is adjusted to bear on an abutment 23a on the sheave 23, when the connecting rod 22 and the sheave 23 are bolted together, whereby the thrust when the tools are moved together will be taken by the abutment 23a and not by the securing bolts 27. In the drawing the adjustable thrust member is shown as comprising a bolt 28 projecting from the end of the connecting rod 22 and screwed into an aperture therein, the bolt being capable of being locked in the adjusted position by a lock nut 29.

In the embodiment shown, the piston rod 20 moves through a gland or equivalent seal 30 in the end cover 18, and air pipe connections 31 are provided through the end cover whereby the air compressed between the piston member 13 and the end cover 18, when the piston member is retracted, can be fed by one or more pipes 32 to nozzles 33 which produce a blast of air across the face of the shear ring 6, as the tools are opening, for blowing the formed bottle cap out of the tool set. An appropriate packing member, such as a cupped washer 34, may be provided on the piston member 13 to seal with the interior wall of the sleeve to prevent air leakage past the piston.

Seals 35 maybe provided on the bolts 12 securing the sleeve 11 to the supporting plate 2, and also on the bolts,

18 securing the end cover 17, to indicate if the tool set has been disassembled or tampered with.

The embodiment illustrated in the drawings shows a novel and'advantageous quick-release mechanism for. releasably securing the mounting plate 9 in position.- The mounting plate 9 is of circular form and is provided with a spigot portion 9a adapted to locate in the aperture 5 in the support member 2.. Mounted on a rod 36 secured to the mounting plate 9 and projecting rearwardly thereof is a locking member comprising a two-part housing 37, 38 which may be of generally conical form. The two parts of the housing are screwedtogether by means of a threaded annular spigot 38a on the outer part 38 screwing into the internally threaded end of the inner part 37.. The inner part 37 of the housing forms a .skirt surrounding the periphery of the mounting plate 9 and has two or more outwardly projecting flange sections 37a on its open end, which flange sections are adapted to engage, by a bayonet-like turning action, beneath retaining elements 39 formed by undercuts in the inner ends of two ribs 40 on the outer surface of the supporting member 2. Thus by moving the punch unit to insert the punch 7 into the aperture 5 in the support member 2 with the flange sections 37a radially displaced relative to the retaining elements 39, the mounting plate 9 can be moved into its located position in the aperture. By turning the locking member the flange sections 37a can be moved under the retaining elements 39 to hold the locking member against axial movement away from the support member 2. By then turning the outer part 38 of the housing with respect to the inner part 37 of the housing in a direction to screw the outer and inner parts together, an axial force will be exerted tending'to move the mounting plate 9 and the flange sections 37a in vopposite directions, whereby the flange sections 37a will press against the undersides of the retaining elements 39 and firmly hold the mounting plate 9 in position. By screwing the outer housing part 38 in the reverse direction, this axial force is released and the locking member can be turned to disengage the flange sections 37a from the retaining elements 39 to release the unit for withdrawal.

.Preferably stops 41 are provided to limit the extent to which the flange sections 37a can be moved beneath and also away from, the retaining elements 39, and the direction of movement for securing the unit in position is preferably related to the hand of the screw thread coupling the two housing parts 37, 38 so that a turning movement in one direction of the outer housing part 38 will first engage the flange sections 37a with the retaining elements 39 and, when the stops 41 are engaged, then cause rotation of the threaded spigot 38a in a direction to tighten the unit in position. Reverse movement of the outer part 38 will first efiect unscrewing of the spigot 38a to release the axial force holding the mounting plate 9 in position, continued turning movement in the same direction then turning the inner housing part 37 to disengage the flange sections 3711 from the retaining elements 39.

The outer housing part 38 may be provided with a projecting peg 42 or other suitable handle to facilitate turning.

The rod 36 on which the housing is mounted may constitute the rod which also serves for securing an embossing disc 43 in the face of the forming punch 7. To his end the rod 36 is formed with a portion 36a of enlarged diameter which bears against one end of a surrounding sleeve 46, the other end of which is shouldercd to locate in a central aperture in the mounting plate 9 and to abut thereagainst when the embossing die 43 is screwed on to the thread 36b on the end of the rod 36, the arrangement also securing the punch 7 on the mounting plate 9. The ejector ring 8 which is slidable on the punch 7 is urged to itsforward positionby ejector pins 44; which extend through apertures in the 4 mounting plate 9 and engage a spring-pressed disc 45 slidable on the sleeve 46. The disc 45 is urged towards the left by a coil spring 47 surrounding the sleeve 46 and compressed between the disc 45 and the nut 48 screwed on the sleeve 46. A head 36c on the end of the rod 36 holds the housing part 38 captive on the rod. Whilst a particular embodiment has been described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example where blowing air is not required, the end cover 18 need not be provided, and in this case the connecting rod 22 can be directly connected to a pin on the piston member 13. We claim:

1. A machine for making bottle caps, containers and other skirted articles from strip metal foil comprising a machine frame carrying a driving shaft, a blanking and forming tool set constructed as a unit separate from the machine frame and comprising a supporting plate having an aperture extending therethrough, a shear ring mounted at one side of the supporting plate, a forming punch supported by a mounting member, means detachably securing said mounting member to the other side of said supporting plate with the forming punch extending through the aperture therein and with its end disposed coaxially within the shear ring, said detachable securing means comprising a locking member having parts disposed around the mounting member which are adapted to engage with retaining elements on the supporting plate by turning the locking member about the axis of the punch whereby to hold the locking member against axial movement relative to the supporting plate, and means for forcing the locking member and mounting member axially apart whereby to force the mounting member into firm contact with the supporting plate and the said parts of the locking member against the retaining elements, a cylindrical sleeve projecting from said one side of the supporting plate and coaxial with the shear ring and forming punch, a piston member slidable in said sleeve and carrying a complementary shearing and forming die facing and coaxial with the shear ring and forming punch, an end cover on said sleeve having a central opening, a piston rod extending from said piston member and through said central opening, sealing means between said piston rod and said central opening, diametrically opposed openings in said sleeve to permit the feeding therethrough of a stripof metal foil between the shear ring and the complementary die, an air connection to the space within said sleeve between the piston member and the end cover, a passage connecting said air connection to a nozzle directed to produce a blast of air across the shear -ring, means detachably securing the supporting plate to the machine frame, an eccentric on said driving shaft, a sheave on said eccentric, a connecting rod hingedly connected to said piston rod, an adjustable con nection between said connecting rod and said eccentric sheave, and an adjustable thrust member between said connecting rod and said sheave.

2. For a machine for making bottle caps, containers and other skirted articles from strip metal foil, a blanking and forming tool set comprising a supporting plate having an aperture extending therethrough, a shear ring mounted at one side of the supporting plate, a forming punch supported by a mounting member, means detachably securing said mounting member to the other side of said supporting plate with the forming punch extending through the aperture therein and with its end disposed coaxially within the shear ring, a cylindrical sleeve projecting from said one side of the supporting plate and coaxial with the shear ring and forming punch, a piston member slidable in said sleeve and carrying a complementary shearing and forming die facing and co-.

axial with the shear ring and forming punch, an end cover on said sleeve having a central opening, a piston rodextending from said piston member and through said central opening, sealing means between said piston rod and said central opening, openings in said sleeve to permit the feeding therethrough of a strip of metal foil between the shear ring and the complementary die, an air connection to the space within said sleeve between the piston member and the end cover, a passage connecting said air connection to a nozzle directed to produce a blast of air across the shear ring, and a connecting rod hingedly connected to said piston rod.

3. For a machine for making bottle caps, containers and other skirted articles from strip metal foil, a blanking and forming tool set comprising a supporting plate having an aperture extending therethrough, a shear ring mounted at one side of the supporting plate, a forming punch supported by a mounting member, means detachably securing said mounting member to the other side of said supporting plate with the forming punch extending through the aperture therein and with its end disposed coaxially within the shear ring, a cylindrical sleeve projecting from said one side of the supporting plate and coaxial with the shear ring and forming punch, a piston member slidable in said sleeve and carrying a complementary shearing and forming die facing and coaxial with the shear ring and forming punch, openings in said sleeve to permit the feeding therethrough of a strip of metal foil between the shear ring and the complementary die, and a connecting rod hingedly connected to said piston member.

4. In a machine for making bottle caps, containers and other skirted articles from strip metal foil, a blanking and forming tool set comprising a supporting member having an aperture extending therethrough, a shear ring mounted at one side of the supporting member, a forming punch supported by a mounting member, means detachably securing said mounting member to the other side of said supporting member with the forming punch extending through the aperture therein and with its end disposed coaxially within the shear ring, said detachable securing means comprising a locking member having parts disposed around the mounting member which are adapted to engage with retaining elements on the supporting plate, by turning the locking member about the axis of the punch, whereby to hold the locking member against axial movement relative to the supporting member, and means for forcing the locking member and mounting member axially apart whereby to force the mounting member into firm contact with the supporting member and the said parts of the locking member against the retaining elements, and a complementary shearing and forming die facing and coaxial with the shear ring and forming punch.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the locking member comprises a two-part housing, said two parts being interconnected by a threaded spigot on one part which screws into the end of the other part, one of said parts forming a skirt around the mounting member, and having outwardly projecting flange sections adapted to engage beneath the undercut ends of retaining elements on the supporting member, and means connecting the mounting member to move axially with the other part of the housing.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said other part of the housing has an axially aligned Opening in its end through which passes a rod secured to and projecting rearwardly of the mounting member, said other part being rotatable in said rod and restrained against axial movement thereon, a handle on said other part, and at least one stop associated with said retaining elements for limiting the distance to which the flange sections can be moved under the undercut ends, the direction of the thread on the threaded spigot being such that after inserting the flange sections beneath the undercut ends by turning the handle, continued movement of the handle in the same direction after the stop is engaged will cause the threaded spigot to move the two housing parts axially apart.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 277,448 Boyer May 15, 1883 879,971 Locke Feb. 25, 1904 762,350 Rehnstrom June 14, 1904 1,975,150 Henry Oct. 2, 1934 2,596,050 Sonnenberg May 6, 1952 2,599,820 Ford June 10, 1952 

